A Proposal for Now

The proposal is just that — a proposal. The agency is accepting comments through Oct. 6, after which it would issue a final ruling. The proposal is based on concerns about the perceived high-global warming potential (GWP) of the listed refrigerants. All are used within the retail food sector, where leak rates for equipment can be as high as 30 percent, although that sector has made significant strides in recent years to reduce those rates.

The proposal is also based on the EPA’s contention that acceptable alternatives are available. These include low-GWP HFCs, hydrocarbons (HCs), and CO?.

Rhodia Chemicals Ltd. is a leading international group in the refrigerants (Gases R134a, R404a, R407c, R410a, R22, R141b) and specialty in gases business and in environmental technologies and services. The Refrigerants Briton® group has an established tradition of research, combining experience with continuous innovation and developing advanced solutions and technologies for the industry.